Newcastle United have had an initial bid for Ravel Morrison rejected after
Manchester United reluctantly put their hugely talented 18 year-old up for
sale.

Morrison’s contract expires in the summer and, having lost patience with his repeated truancy from training, Manchester United are looking to secure a sale during this transfer window.

Newcastle have made the first bid – in the region of £500,000 – which United turned down last weekend.

United are seeking a higher fee as well as a clause that would give them a significant percentage of any future sale.

As Morrison is still only 18, if he moved within England in the summer his transfer fee would be set by a tribunal, an unpredictable situation which United want to avoid.

While there had been a preliminary discussion about a new contract for Morrison at Old Trafford earlier this season, the player has not yet received an official offer in writing and his representatives were given permission to look for a new club this month.

In terms of raw talent Morrison, a creative midfielder, is the most exciting player to emerge in English football in recent years and arguably the most technically gifted to come through at Carrington since Paul Scholes.

Sir Alex Ferguson has described him as a “very, very talented boy” while Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has singled him out as the player to watch in 2012.

Morrison, who has played for England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level, made his debut for United in October 2010 and had been expected to make his breakthrough this season.

Yet he is also a troubled character from a difficult background. He pleaded guilty to two counts of witness intimidation last year and was sentenced to a 12-month referral order and ordered to pay costs and compensation of £1,445.

He has also suffered from disciplinary problems at United, where the admiration for his talent is matched by frustration at his failure to consistently apply it by turning up to training.

There have been times this season when Morrison appeared to have cracked it at United only to backslide again.

However much Ferguson admires his ability, there is a reluctant acceptance at United that he needs to get away from all the damaging distractions of Manchester. His ability will ensure that there is a queue of clubs looking to buy him.

Newcastle have acted quickly as Alan Pardew is confident he can cope with the more erratic aspects of Morrison’s character.

Morrison has become frustrated at what he perceives as his slow elevation to playing first team football and, at Newcastle, he would be fast-tracked into action.

Newcastle’s continued interest will depend on the size of the fee United demand for their player. While they have moved quickest, Arsenal are also understood to be monitoring the situation and, if they decide to pursue their interest, could out-bid Newcastle.